Seal tag



Jan. 15, 1952 STQFFEL 2,582,295

SEAL TAG Filed April 1, 1947 INVENTOR.

' EJmF/Q By HAM J Patented Jan. 15, 1952 HansF. Stoflel, Scarsdale, N. Y. I

Application April 1, 1947, Serial No. 738,659

7 Claims. 1 .T This invention. relates to. seal tags and: more particularly to vtampersproof; seal tags or sealing "devices for attachment to'articles to be-sealed and'identified; the tags being substantially made from metal, such as aluminum or. plastic, plastic composition and any other suitable material.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide an improved and .efficien-t seal tag which may be readily adjusted with respect to the article to which .said seal tag is applied and which is self-locking. This new seal tag includes a hollow, annular rim in which tie means is accommodated and which projects beyond said rim through openings or slots thereof. The tie means includes a loop portion for "encompassing an article or part'thereof' and has one or two loose .ends or legs which may be grasped by the hand of a 'personfor manipulating'the tag and for locking the same in place.

1 It is another oloiect of the invention to provide means affording the manufacture of inexpensive seal tags or devices by mass production method and the operation of such seal tags in a simple and secure manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide means facilitating the severance of tie. means or a part thereof in locked position of said seal tag.

Yet, anotherobject of the invention is to provide means conducing to a sturdy and strong seal submitted for thepurpose of only illustrating certain embodiments of the invention; reference leeing further had. to the attached claims.

In the drawing, wherein similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts throughout the several views,

Fig. '1 is a perspective view of the cup of which the ta made in accordance withthis invention is manufactured;

Fig. 2 is a front-.elevational. View of a seal. tag asappliedto an article and shown before the freeends or legs of the tiemeans arepulled tight; Fig. 3 is a front-elevational view of thetag of Fig. 2., in a. somewhat modified form and before it is attached to anarticle;

' Fig. 4; is a front-elevational view of a tagzin modifiedformbut similar to that shown in Fig, 3

- Fig.:-5 is a rear view of the tag made in accordance with this invention-andas seen in.Fig., 3, .but shownt'as secured to an article;

Fig. '6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing and before explaining the present invention in greater detail, it is to be understood that the invention is nets-limited in-aits application to the details ofconstruction'and arrangement of-parts as illustrated since the invention iscapable of other-embodiments and of being practiced or earried out in various ways;

The novel seal tag is manufactured from a cup 2c of suitable material as hereinabove mentioned, which cup is shown inperspective in Fig. 1. This cup 29 has a bottomor platesurface I,-which is preferably flat and has further an upwardlyextending rim zi -consisting of sections 2 and 3 which are formed by slots 4 and 5 cut across said rim 2!, said slots: normally extending: toward and terminating short of ibottom:plate I. 'Slot4 is shaped-similar to slot 5 but for anmex-tension forming a slit =l which extends angularly" toslot 4 and-rim 2 'intothe curvedvdepr'ession Band/or further into said plate surface I.- The aforesaid slots have not necessarily to he arranged in opposed relation, as shown.- Where therim 2 I joins the bottomplate I, there is disposed the aforesaidcurvecl depression 8- which is-preshaped to their-adius. of the'hollow annular rim'22 of the finished tag. One of the sections of -the rim may be; made of lesser height than theopposite section so as-to securely and fixedly grip and hold one end 9: of tie -means,ssuch ascord 9, when-the latter is arranged-as shown in Fig. 3.. As :shown in Fig. 6, the; manufactured seal tag has its rim sections 2' and 3'- curled over-to form hollow, closed channel means to accommodate therein looped string; wire, cord; or other suitablewtie means 9. i

As shown in Fig. 2, cord 9 terminates in free legs or vends .lll-Adwhichproject from within rim-section 2' therewithout. In anotherlemhodiment shown in Fig. 3, .onecord end 9 is tightly and. permanently. gripped by. and within. the. interiorof rim section 3 ,.whereas thelother. cord end Ill! projects beyond slot 4 .andengages frictionally withthe interior of rim section 2.1with rim or channel means so as to allow cord 9 to be slidably pulled therethrough in the direction of arrow II when the seal tag is being applied to an article I2 or l3 ('Figs. 2 and 5). If the loop of the cord 9 of the tag is made sufficiently large, such loop can first be slipped over an article, such as for instance, a turkey wing I3, and then reduced in size to such extent that the tag cannot any more be removed. The tag can also be passed through its own loop as seen in Fig. 2, when the tag is to be secured to an elongated member 12. Legs H) of tag 20 have subloop diameter becomes smaller than the diameter sequently to be pulled to the extent that the of the tag, whereby the latter will substantially abut against member 12 (in a manner similar to the showing of Fig. 5) in finally applied position of the tag. After the loop and position of the tag have thus been adjusted, the legs Ii) will be wedged into slit 1, locked therein and the projecting parts of legs ll] cut oil to prevent any tampering with such seal tag.

The preference of one tag over the other as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, depends primarily on the specific case of application.

Thus, if the loop can be slipped over an article, it will be desirable to divide the cord as shown in Fig. 3 so that only one end or leg slidably passes through section 2' of the rim, whereas the other leg end is firmly gripped and secured by the curled section 3'.

The selection of the shape of the tag, whether it be round, square, oval or triangular is a matter of taste and should be determined mainly to fit the design or inscription to be printed (not shown) on the face of the tag. However, a shape where the cord is embedded in the curved rim is preferred, as it provides a better grip and lends itself better to produce a tamper-proof seal or tag.

To attach the tag according to this invention, the loop of the tie means may be slipped over a reduced portion of turkey wings l3 or hitched to l2, as shown in Fig. 2, then the ends ID are pulled tight in the direction of arrow LI until the loop is adjusted and tight around the article. In order to lock the cord in this position, the ends I are pulled in the direction of arrow [4 to wedge or look them in slot extension I. The protruding ends H! are then cut off with any sharp instrument by the operator, so that, if the tag is subsequently pulled ofi by force, it would be impossible to attach this tag again. Since the edges of slit 1 may be made sharp and rough due to the drawing operation in the manufacture of the cup, the use of a suitable cord will permit the severance of the ends when the same are pulled in the direction of arrow l4 within the slit forming the slot extension 1. Thus, slot extension I may not only be considered as a locking wedge, but may also include a cutting edge or severing means for cord 9.

It is well understood that if the term cord is used herein, such term is intended to include any of the possible tie means which may be suitable for the purpose mentioned hereinbefore.

It will be easily visualized that the extension '1 of slot 4 may be provided directly in the fiat blank when slots 4 and are punched into bottom plate I; however, it is also possible to out such slot extension or similar locking or wedging means in the cup-shaped, half-finished seal 20, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The position of such locking means may be independent of the slot arrangement 4-5.

Although slot extension I is shown in wedgeshaped configuration, it is quite obvious that other suitable shapes are contemplated in accordance with this invention, whereby various thicknesses of tie means may be accommodated in the cup to finally form the seal tag.

It now becomes apparent from the above disclosure that there has been provided in accordance with this invention a tag comprising a bottom plate, a rim extending from said bottom plate and provided with slots cut across said rim, a wedge-shaped slot extension extending through said rim, said rim being curled and providing annular channel means having respective openings at said slots, and tie means positioned in said channel means, said tie means including a loop projecting beyond one of said slots and at least one leg projecting beyond another slot, whereby upon pulling of said projecting leg the extent of said loop of said tie means may be changed, said one leg being insertable in said slot extension for securement therein.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A tag comprising a bottom plate, a rim extending from said bottom plate and provided with slots cut across said rim, one slot having a wedgeshaped slot extension extending in said rim toward said bottom plate, said rim being curled and providing closed annular channel means having respective openings at said slots, and tie means located and slidable under friction in said channel means, said tie means including a loop projecting beyond one of said slots and at least one free end portion projecting beyond another slot, whereby upon manipulation of said projecting end portion the extent of said loop of said tie means may be changed, said one end portion being insertable in said slot extension for securement therein.

2. A seal tag comprising hollow channel means extending along the circumference of said ta said channel means bein provided with two spaced-apart slots whereby division of said channel means is achieved at the location of said slots, a tie member adapted to frictionally and slidably engage said channel means and extending from one of said slots through said channel means to the other of said slots to thereby form a loop at the latter slot, said tie member havin at least one end projecting out 0:! said one slot, and a slitted extension forming a prolongation of said one slot and directed angularly thereto, said slitted extension being shaped to wedgingly engage said one end of said tie member for securing the latter against removal from said channel means.

3. A seal tag according to claim 2, whereby said slitted extension further includes a sharp edge for severing said projecting end from the remainder of said tie member.

4. A seal ta comprising a hollow rim provided with a pair of slots, a tie member extending within at least a portion of said rim and frictionally and slidably engaged by the latter, said tie member having free ends normally emerging from said rim through one of said slots and extending therebeyond, a loop portion forming part of said tie member and emergin from the other of said slots, and an oblique slit communicating with and forming an extension of said one slot at which the free ends of said tie member emerge, said free ends being adapted to be grasped for regulating the extent of said loop portion, said slit being shaped to wedgingly receive the free ends of said tie member upon regulation of the extent of said loop portion.

5. A seal tag comprising a hollow rim provided with a pair of slots, 8, tie member extending within at least a portion of said rim and irictionally and slidably engaged by the latter, said tie member having free ends normally emergin from said rim through one of said slots and extending therebeyond, a loop portion forming part of said tie member and emergin from the other of said slots, and an oblique slot cut across said rim and forming an extension of said one slot at which the free ends of said tie member emerge, said free ends being adapted to be grasped for regulating the extent of said loop portion, said slit forming a severing means for said tie member.

6. A seal ta having a hollow rim, a pair of slots in said rim, a looped cord having ends entering one of said slots and through said rim and extending through the other of said slots therewithout, said cord being adapted to be pulled under friction through said rim to tighten the loop of said cord around an article, and a slit positioned at the other slot and communicating with said rim where said ends emerge from said rim and shaped to secure said cord against movement within said rim.

7. A seal tag according to claim 6, including means at the end of said slit and adapted to sever the ends of said cord after said tag is atlil tached to said article and said loop is tightened.

HANS F. STOFFEL.

REFERENCES CITED 1 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 566,859 Gintz Sept. 1, 1896 20 2,346,197 Stelzer Apr. 11, 1944 2,371,414 Stelzer Mar. 13, 1945 

